While Sen. Patricia Wiggins is supporting rural broadband access and extension of Indian Gaming Distribution Funds, she sponsors a bill that halts suction dredging.

The impact of this legislation will be devastating to Sierra County, the poorest county in the state, whose economy relies heavily on tourism, especially gold miners.

I am not a resident of Sierra County; I do not have an interest in a gold claim, or run a gold dredge. However, our family has vacationed in Sierra County on Forest Service land since 1964.

Early Californians, especially miners, committed heinous crimes against Native Americans in search of wealth and power. One must ask themselves, how “they” could have committed such atrocities.

Ironically, Sen Wiggins is perpetrating an economic crime on small business and on the poorest people in the state, the residents of Sierra County, while being praised in Lake County and other counties which have Indian Gaming.

Perhaps modern miners had it coming to them for their predecessor's deeds, or perhaps Sen. Wiggins' bill is just quid pro quo for Indian gaming campaign support.

Rob Maloney lives in Encino.